Rumi's Masnavi - In prayer and fasting and pilgrimage and alms-giving the true believers are (engaged) with the hypocrite in (what brings) victory and defeat.

In prayer and fasting and pilgrimage and alms-giving the true believers are (engaged) with the hypocrite in (what brings) victory and defeat.

در نماز و روزه و حج و زکات ** با منافق مومنان در برد و مات‌‌

Victory in the end is to the true believers; upon the hypocrite (falls) defeat in the state hereafter.

مومنان را برد باشد عاقبت ** بر منافق مات اندر آخرت‌‌

Although both are intent on one game, in relation to each other they are (as far apart as) the man of Merv and the man of Rayy.

گر چه هر دو بر سر یک بازی‌‌اند ** هر دو با هم مروزی و رازی‌‌اند

Each one goes to his (proper) abiding-place; each one fares according to his name.

هر یکی سوی مقام خود رود ** هر یکی بر وفق نام خود رود

If he be called a true believer, his soul rejoices; and if (he be called) “hypocrite,” he becomes fierce and filled with fire (rage). 290

مومنش خوانند جانش خوش شود ** ور منافق تیز و پر آتش شود

His (the true believer's) name is loved on account of its essence (which is true faith); this one's (the hypocrite's) name is loathed on account of its pestilent qualities.

نام او محبوب از ذات وی است ** نام این مبغوض از آفات وی است‌‌

(The four letters) mím and wáw and mím and nún do not confer honour: the word múmin (true believer) is only for the sake of denotation.

میم و واو و میم و نون تشریف نیست ** لفظ مومن جز پی تعریف نیست‌‌

If you call him (the true believer) hypocrite, this vile name is stinging (him) within like a scorpion.

گر منافق خوانی‌‌اش این نام دون ** همچو کژدم می‌‌خلد در اندرون‌‌

If this name is not derived from Hell, then why is there the taste of Hell in it?

گرنه این نام اشتقاق دوزخ است ** پس چرا در وی مذاق دوزخ است‌‌

The foulness of that ill name is not from the letters; the bitterness of that sea-water is not from the vessel (containing it). 295

زشتی آن نام بد از حرف نیست ** تلخی آن آب بحر از ظرف نیست‌‌